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It’s been a full year since the passing of Marriage Equality in Australia – and GayWeddingGuide.com service providers have been making dreams come true all year! In this series, we will be chatting to some of the amazing service providers that don’t discriminate, and spread love all around our great country… we got to catch up with the one and only Shona Tough from Aye Do Weddings to chat about the amazing people that become celebrants, what they do and the impact a year of equality has had on the profession.

Hi Shona! Thanks for chatting with us – so what it that made you want to become a wedding celebrant?

I was looking for a career change after 20 years in Senior marketing roles I had enough of being stuck in an office all day. I love public speaking and have always had an interest in theatre and drama. I was invited to a wedding in the UK, an outdoor festival wedding, glamping and dancing under the stars. I loved the vibe and thought it would be great to be part of such a special occasion. I decided to take the course in 2014 and qualified in 2015. I felt like I could bring a young, modern and fresh approach to being a celebrant.

So bringing such a fresh approach to the profession - what is your style as a wedding celebrant?

It depends on the couple, it’s their special day and I am there to facilitate it and make sure it is everything they wish for. I listen to each couple and understand what would be appropriate to meet their needs. I like to tell their story and bring out their personalities. I am a fun and friendly person and that comes through in my ceremonies. I have had plenty laughs and smiles from guests, I am never too serious, it's a special celebration so it should be fun and friendly (or funky and flamboyant as one couple asked for!)

How do you see the differences between same-sex couple and heterosexual couple's ceremonies?

The same-sex couples are very emotional because a lot of these couples have waited many years to be able to make their commitment. The older couples generally have family members that they want to involve and this makes it really special. I have had gay men being given away by their daughters, a lesbian couple involving their daughter, one couple who had their young niece and nephew as witnesses. These family members fought long and hard for equality so to be part of the day is an honour and quite emotional for everyone.

People at risk of HIV will save hundreds of dollars from next month with the price of a preventative drug slashed.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily drug recently recommended for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

It is 99 per cent effective in preventing the transmission of HIV among gay and bisexual men, and from April will be available to high-risk general patients for $39.50 a monthly script, with concessional patients to pay $6.40.

Without the $180 million government subsidy patients would have paid nearly $2500 a year.

"(The listing) puts Australia in reach of being one of the first countries in the world to end the transmission of HIV," Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Wednesday.

He says the change will not only benefit gay and bisexual men, but also help drive down HIV rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrant communities, which have seen increased transmission rates in recent years.

The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations says until now access to PrEP has been patchy, prohibitively expensive and mainly accessed through clinical trials.

"This will drive a substantial reduction in transmission and allow us to turbo-charge the Australian HIV response," federation CEO Darryl O'Donnell said in a statement.

The federation argues investment in HIV prevention also makes excellent financial sense, with each averted transmission of HIV saving the taxpayer one million dollars in lifetime costs.

Under the listing, patients will receive a three-month prescription and a sexual health check on each visit to the GP.

The government is also spending $1.2 million over five years on education and awareness measures for prescribers and affected communities on how to access and use PrEP.

It was an overwhelming victory for equality in Australia - but let us not forget those who voted against the will of the Australian people and in some cases, their electorates. The following list shows those that voted NO and those that abbott-stained... we mean abstained from even voting.

Who abstained from the same-sex marriage vote?

Barnaby Joyce (Nationals)

Tony Abbott (Liberals)

Andrew Hastie (Liberals)

Michael Sukkar (Liberals)

Kevin Andrews (Liberals)

Scott Morrison (Liberals)

George Christensen (LNP)

Rick Wilson (Liberals)

Stuart Robert (Liberals)

Bert van Manen (Liberals)

What about no votes?

New educational posters are being distributed across the state to every NSW Police Force command to assist officers better understand transgender and gender diversity terms, including how to respectfully address people. Thanks to The Gender Centre and Twenty10 staff for helping us update our existing poster.

The Gender Centre and Sydney's Twenty10 organisations assisted the Police with the update to the posters.

“There are chances of a Melbourne wedding…(but) we will not get married until this law has passed in Australia,” Sasse told Australia’s Seven Network.

“When I found out that gay marriage was illegal in Australia, I was astounded,” he said. “I simply can’t fathom on any level, whether it’s moral or religious or anything, that I have the right to get married and to marry the person that I love and that somebody else doesn’t because of their sexual orientation.”

“Why are we any more important than anyone else?” he asked. “It’s not right and something’s got to be done about it.”

Actress Margot Robbie also showed her support when she wore a “Say I Do Down Under” shirt on “Saturday Night Live.”

The majority of supporters of same-sex marriage in Australia worry that a nationwide debate ahead of a plebiscite will make way for abusive rhetoric that could be emotionally damaging to many, with far right groups already distributing offensive and untrue materials.

Leading advocacy groups are still pushing the government for a free vote on the issue as it resumes its sitting period next week.

The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) has today welcomed the much anticipated introduction of the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth laws – General Law Reform) Bill 2008 (Cth) into the House of Representatives. The bill, which ensures same-sex couples and their children will enjoy equal rights and entitlements alongside heterosexual couples, amends around 70 federal laws which currently discriminate against lesbians and gay men, and their families.

"These reforms will deliver a new modern age of equality for lesbians and gay men, and their children, in Australia. Our relationships and our families will finally be recognised in almost every piece of legislation across the nation", said Emily Gray, GLRL Co-Convenor.

The Bill gives same-sex couples and their children new entitlements and benefits in federal laws relating to taxation, superannuation, Medicare and health entitlements, social security, veterans’ and defence benefits, migration and anti-discrimination.

"We welcome the bipartisan spirit shown for reforms in this area. Last year’s GetUp! poll showed more than 70% of Australians support same-sex de facto equality. With this legislation, parliament has finally caught up with community attitudes. We call on the Coalition to support these reforms and ensure their speedy passage through the parliament and into the law books of Australia," said Peter Johnson, GLRL Co-Convenor.

The laws adopt and go further beyond the recommendations of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s Same-Sex: Same Entitlements report, which found that 58 federal laws discriminate against same-sex couples and their children.

The GLRL’s 58 ‘08 campaign – demanding equality in 58 laws by the end of 2008 – has delivered over one thousand letters and personal stories to the Commonwealth Attorney-General calling for swift and comprehensive same-sex equality reform.

Along with equal rights and benefits, aspects of the reforms will also impose new responsibilities on same-sex couples in areas such as social security.

The GLRL has been working with the Government to ensure that the transition to equality will give people adequate time to adjust their finances. The Government has already agreed to the GLRL’s recommendation for a phasing in of social security reforms. However, the GLRL continues to call for an extensive education campaign to ensure all same-sex couples and their children are adequately prepared for the changes.

"We call on the Government to fund a comprehensive public campaign to educate lesbians and gay men about their new rights and responsibilities under the law, and ensure all Commonwealth service providers do not discriminate against same-sex couples and their children", said Emily Gray.

The GLRL will also be using a grant awarded by the City of Sydney to educate lesbians and gay men about the new reforms.

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